The circular economy and its relationship with economic development: a systematic literature review.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.19136/hitos.a32n94.6447Keywords:
circular economy, economic development, sustainable development.Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the strategies used in the Circular Economy (CE) and their impact on the economic development of the countries that implement them.
MATERIAL AND METHOD: A systematic literature review was conducted, analyzing 14 articles published between 2020 and 2025. The Web of Science database was utilized, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure the relevance of the sources. Data analysis was carried out using VOSviewer to identify thematic clusters, alongside a systematic critical analysis.
RESULTS: The most widely implemented CE strategies are solid waste management, the development of low-carbon cities, circular business models, and the recycling of plastics and electronic equipment. Economic development is primarily evaluated through Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, alongside indicators such as employment, cost reduction, and wealth generation from waste.
CONCLUSIONS: CE is key to sustainable economic development, as it reduces environmental impact, fosters innovation and resource efficiency, creates jobs, and drives GDP growth-particularly when integrated with public policies and industrial strategies.
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